Attack on Gays in KY Ruled Hate Crime

COVINGTON, Ky. – A judge in Covington has ruled an attack outside a gay-friendly club was a hate crime.

The decision by Kenton Circuit Judge Patricia Summe allows denial of probation or parole to Devlin Burke, 31, who was convicted in March of felony assault and being a persistent offender.

When Summe announced her ruling on Tuesday, Burke responded by saying “Sieg heil,” according to The Kentucky Enquirer.

Evidence at Burke’s trial showed an attack began as an argument after a car in which Burke was a passenger nearly struck a group of women who had just left the Yadda Club.

Three other men got out of a passing van to intervene and were attacked and slashed, requiring medical treatment. A prosecutor said Burke and his companion were shouting anti-gay slurs during the attack.

Burke was on supervised release from federal prison when the assaults outside the club occurred. One of his attorneys, Ameer Mabhish, said Burke would likely have to serve the two remaining years of the federal sentence.